The City of my Heart

If you feel like having Thai food, then Malaka Spice is the place. I have been there only once, and then they had Malay, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Korean cuisine, too. But it is more famous as a Thai restaurant. Like most of the other specialty places, this is also a small little restaurant. It is located in Koregaon Park.

As you go though the menu and try to place the order, you will realize that you might feel phonetically challenged to read out the names. At least I did, trying to read out names like Gaihuv Bai and Gai Pad Himapan! But the easier way to do it is by using the English translations or recipe number!

The decor is very bright with its orange tiles, black candle stands, and as it has Author’s theme (next to it), you can buy wonderful paintings that are displayed there. It’s an experience worth repeating! It’s time for me to visit the place again!

When you think of eating out in Pune, you have a lot of specialty options. For those who have lost the taste for hot and spicy Indian food and are interested in having something creamy and delicious and mouthwatering, maybe French cuisine, visit Arthur’s Theme!

If you plan to go there in a large group, let me warn you that it is a small place with six to seven tables set in a magical ambience! They have tried to set up a little bit of French atmosphere at this lovely little restaurant located on North Main Road, Koregoan Park.

It has blue tiles and overhanging lanterns. The best part (other than the food) is the lovely paintings by the local artists exhibited here. Mind you, they are for sale, so you don’t see the same works when you go there. There is also a basement seating arrangement where the walls are painted with scenes from the French country.

When I visited it for the first time about 2 years back, I was surprised to see what they had to offer on the menu - Don Quixote, Marie Claire, etc. You have to have the patience to read though the ingredients to know what the food is all about. The food is flavoured in delicate sauces and presented with great care that would tempt even the fussiest eater to have a bite! The food is sure to add a few extra pounds that you were dreaming to shed, but it is worth it.

Arthur’s Theme is perfect if you are in groups of 2-5. Check it out!

When you think of eating out in Pune, there are a lot of good joints and restaurants. But if you are thinking specifically about having biryani, then Blue Nile is the place.

Blue Nile is located near Pune Club, very close to the famous Chowpatty. I should say that almost every item listed on the menu is very good, so you can safely pick and choose anything, but biryani is what you should have if you go to Blue Nile. The taste is absolutely divine and mouthwatering. It is thronged by people of all ages, and a perfect place for a family.

The chicken tandoori and kebabs are also very good and mouthwatering! In short, if want to relish biryani, then head straight to Blue Nile!

Aga Khan Place is situated on Nagar Road and is also known as Kasturba Gandhi Memorial or Kasturba Samadhi. It was built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III and donated to India in 1969 by Aga Khan IV. Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba were under house arrest (towards the end of the British rule in India) in this palace.

If you are fond of visiting historical places, then it is a place to visit.

Raja Kelkar Museum, situated on Bajirao Road, is a must-see for tourists. It has collection items and artifacts from all over the country. They were collected by Shri Dinkar Ganghadhar Kelkar over a period of 70 years. Some of the exhibit items date back to the Mughal and the Maratha periods. The most enchanting attraction is the Mastani Mahal, brought from the original settings and re-erected here. You can see a wonderful collection of foot scrubs used by the queens, hair ornaments, musical instruments, and lots more. Check it out!

The museum was the brainchild of Shri B. S. Joshi, who was an engineer by profession and a keen model railway enthusiast. Collecting train models was not just his hobby but an obsession right from childhood. As a child, he made very creative small models of forts during the Diwali festival, which is a custom in Maharashtra, India. He put together this museum, and it became functioanl in 1999. The experience inside the Museum hall is one that people remember for a lifetime.

Just across the river on the Jungli Maharaj Road is the wonderful Pataleshwar temple (Panchaleshvara cave) dedicated to lord Shiva. The Nandi and the pillars are carved from one single rock. This Shiva Temple was made in the 8th century but was not completed, but today it's an active temple.

In front of the excavation is a circular Nandi mandapam (pavilion). Cut from one rock, this temple is reminiscent of the Kailasa temple at Ellora. It has a Shiva Shrine, as well as one in honor of his bull Nandi.

Pune has become a international tourist spot because of the Osho Commune International. Spread over 31 acres of flush green surroundings, it is a meditation resort to people from over 60-70 different countries. The Osho Commune offers over 100 different meditation techniques to all the participants. It has become a must-visit to all the tourists over the world who are on a spiritual journey. It has continued to prosper since the Bhagwan’s death in 1990 and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The main center for meditation or dance are Buddha Hall (where the ‘White robe Brotherhood’ gathers every evening) and the Osho Samadhi, where the guru’s ashes are kept. The ashram has a beautiful 12-acre zen garden called the Shunyo Garden.

Shopping
Laxmi Road is a hot spot for shopping. You can park your vehicle in a corner and walk through the length of this place to buy anything you want. You get the best of jewelry, the fanciest of saris and dress material, elegant foot wear; anything you ask for, you get it here!

M.G. Road, or the main street, popularly known as Camp, is also a good place for shopping but a little expensive. But you get trendy and wonderful stuff here. It is also the perfect place for window-shopping!

Two other places that are hot favorites of the youngsters (and even others) are Fashion Street and Hong Kong Lane. Visit these places if you are in a mood to bargain and want to pick up trendy but inexpensive stuff!!

Restaurants
When you think of eating out in Pune, you have a lot of specialty options. It is not like going to a restaurant and opting for South Indian, Punjabi, or Chinese food. Now, variety is the key word, where the culinary specialties of a couple of dozen countries reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the city. Pune, with its rich blend of a local and cosmopolitan crowd, seems to have a perfect menu for each and every person, be it Chinese, Italian, French, Continental, Mexican, Swiss, German, Japanese, Thai... the list seems to be endless. You can find an appropriate place to visit in Pune!

Nightlife
Pune has an overwhelming number of nightclubs. So, if you like to visit a pub or dance away to the best of music, then Pune is the place for you! Most of these nightclubs have become a regular hangout for the young crowd.

Pune has been famous for the annual Ganapati Festival. It was also known as the army and air force base. Now, it is evolving into an industrial and hi-tech city with a large number of industrial houses, software companies, educational institutions, and research institutes. It is a happening city, and no one can deny it!